Experienced Bankruptcy and Once Completely Disappeared: Chievo is “Reborn” Thanks to Pelissier’s Efforts

After experiencing a situation of complete disappearance following bankruptcy, Chievo was officially rebuilt with the efforts of former player Pelissier. Now, the club has risen from the ninth tier of Italian football all the way back to Serie C, harboring grand ambitions. Chievo’s legendary star Pelissier gave an interview to Foot Mercato, recounting the legal battles over the past three years.

For nostalgic Italian fans, they must still remember Chievo’s glory in the 2000s, especially during the 2005/2006 season when it had players like Amauri, Victor Obinna, Luciano, Lorenzo D’Anna, Davide Mandelli, Paolo Sammarco, and Franco Semioli. This outstanding team finished fourth in the league that year, historically qualifying for the UEFA Champions League play-offs. However, the summer of 2021 completely changed Chievo’s fate.

In July 2021, Chievo was expelled from Serie B due to failure to pay taxes. The club stated that during the pandemic, an agreement had been reached allowing them to make installment payments. In the following weeks, Chievo, demoted to Serie D, declared bankruptcy and ceased to exist entirely on August 22, 2021, due to lack of takeover. But after three years, under the tremendous behind-the-scenes efforts of Pelissier, who is now the president of Chievo, the club has officially risen again. Leading the club to reclaim its badge and jersey, Chievo currently ranks 16th in Group B of Serie C, hoping to create history once more, aiming for Serie A and European competitions.

During the rebuilding process, Pelissier led the search for a new investment group, attempting to re-register and participate in Serie C under the name “Chievo.” However, this plan failed due to lack of takeover. Therefore, Pelissier decided to part ways with the then-chairman Luca Campedelli, creating a new club named “FC Clivense,” which was allowed to participate in the lowest level of the Italian football league system, the “Terza Categoria,” in the 2021/2022 season. Due to Luca Campedelli still holding the rights to use the “Chievo” brand, the new club had to be renamed “FC Clivense.” In its first season, FC Clivense won the Terza Categoria championship and subsequently lifted the trophy again in the Eccellenza league. With this championship in 2023, FC Clivense was promoted to Serie C and finished ninth in its first season.

On May 10, 2024, Pelissier successfully acquired the naming rights to Chievo through auction, enabling him to reuse the club’s badge, history, data, and jerseys. He said, “These three years have been extraordinary; we’ve achieved a lot. We worked hard, and the club was rebuilt. Many players and staff also grew in the process. Although last year’s performance was not as expected, this year’s acquisition of the brand made up for it, and we are very satisfied.”

Now, for the first time since the 2020/2021 season, Chievo is back participating in the Italian football league, reborn thanks to the tremendous efforts of this legendary figure, Pelissier.